Something will have to give Wednesday when Mars Hill entertains UVA Wise in South Atlantic Conference play. The Lions have yet to win a league game while the Cavaliers are winless on the road in conference action. Defense has been a problem for Mars Hill, first-year coach Briana Clark's squad ranks 296th nationally in scoring defense allowing 80.7 points per game. Turnovers have been a big reason why opponents have put up big offensive numbers against Mars Hill. The Lions are averaging a league-worst 21.6 turnovers per game. Junior De'Ja Marshall and senior Tatum Boggs are the only two players averaging double figures. Marshall (16.5 ppg) and Boggs (10.1 ppg) account for 46.7 percent of the team's offensive scoring output. Overall, Mars Hill is in the midst of a 34-game conference losing streak having won just won league game since the start of the 2017 season. The Lions do have a pair of wins this season, the club knocked off Warren WIlson 65-54 and Bluefield State 73-55 with both wins coming on the road. Mars Hill has not won at home since Nov. 12, 2018 meaning the team enters its game with UVA Wise looking to halt an 18-game home losing skid.

UVA Wise wraps up its three-game road trip in need of a victory. The Cavaliers sit a game behind Lincoln Memorial University for eighth place in the league standings. With the top eight teams making the SAC Tournament, Wednesday's game at Mars Hill is pivotal to keep pace in the race to make the conference tournament. In the first meeting between the two schools, the Cavaliers used the freshman duo of Caitlyn Ross and Nia Vanzant to claim an 87-64 victory. Vanzant scored 22 points while Ross tallied 16 points and dished out seven assists. The pair have been playing well of late also. Entering Wednesday's game, Ross is averaging 12.8 points, 7.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game over the last five contests. Meanwhile, Vanzant is averaging 15.6 points, and 5.8 rebounds per game during the five-game stretch. For UVA Wise to win, the team will have to flip the script; the Cavs are 1-8 on the road allowing opponents more than 84 points per game. The number is in contrast to how the team has played at home where UVA Wise is limiting teams to 64 points per game en route to a 6-2 record in the Prior Center. Following the game, the Cavs will return to the Prior Center to face a pair of regionally ranked teams in Catawba and Tusculum beginning Saturday when the Indians visit town for a 2 p.m. tip.